William "Buck" McCandless was an American military officer and politician from Pennsylvania.
16 Facts About William McCandless
William McCandless served in the Union Army during the American Civil War and commanded a regiment and then a brigade in the Pennsylvania Reserve Division.
William McCandless served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district from 1867 to 1868 and as the first Secretary of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania from 1875 to 1879.
William McCandless was raised by his Uncle after his parents death when he was a young child.
The family emigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when William McCandless was six years old.
William McCandless attended public schools and apprenticed as a machinist at Norris Locomotive Works.
William McCandless studied law and entered the bar in 1858.
William McCandless enlisted in the 2nd Pennsylvania Reserve Regiment, as a private; but he was promoted to the rank of major in June 1861.
William McCandless was wounded at Second Bull Run and missed Antietam.
When William Sinclair was wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg, McCandless succeeded him in command of the 1st Brigade of the Reserves under George Gordon Meade.
William McCandless commanded the division in the Bristoe Campaign in the fall of 1863.
William McCandless reverted to brigade command and served under Crawford in the Mine Run Campaign.
Colonel William McCandless was mustered out of the volunteer service with his regiment on June 6,1864.
William McCandless was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 1st district from 1867 to 1869.
William McCandless was elected as the first Secretary of Internal Affairs of Pennsylvania in 1874 and served from 1875 until 1879.
William McCandless died on June 17,1884, and was interred at the Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.